The next Warhammer 40K balance dataslate is coming soon — here are 5 predictions for the changes that could shake up the meta across Chaos, Marines, Eldar, and more.
The week before a new Warhammer 40K Balance Dataslate can always be one of the most stressful times in the hobby. We all hope to see our armies get changed as little—or as much—as possible, but that doesn’t always end up being the case.
Still, it is sometimes easy to see the writing on the wall for certain changes, and these are our predictions for the upcoming balance tweaks that now appear likely to hit next week rather than this one.
1. Death Guard Don’t Get Touched Again
This one is a little painful. Death Guard received an emergency patch recently as a result of their utter dominance in the meta, but that is likely all the changes the best army in the game will get for now.
The problem is that these updates did very little to slow down this force of nature. Short of most armies in the game receiving buffs, it seems unlikely that anyone is positioned to consistently compete with Death Guard outside of Imperial and Chaos Knights.
Expect this faction to remain firmly planted at the top of the meta after the dataslate.
2. Fire Dragons Come Back Down to Earth
Eldar are in a very strong position right now, and a large part of that has to do with their best unit.
Fire Dragons and Fuegan are tearing through the game at the moment, and it is probably happening at a rate that starts to get dangerous for the meta if left unchecked.
At its core, this unit isn’t inherently broken. However, with the game so focused on small hulls, Fire Dragons have become an overperforming answer. A small nerf here—likely a points increase or adjustment to Fuegan—would bring the unit back in line while still keeping its excellent datasheet rule and damage output intact.
3. Leagues of Votann Get Needed Rule Change
The Brandfast Oathband currently boasts the best single stratagem of 10th Edition, and everyone can see that a change is coming.
Being able to disembark a transport for just 1 CP during any phase is downright insane. That stratagem is so strong that it would still be worth using at 3 CP, which clearly shows how problematic it is.
The most likely fix is that the wording on this rule is adjusted from “any phase” to something more restrictive. This would leave it as a useful ability, but it would no longer be game-breaking.
4. Genestealer Cults Fall Back into (Casual) Obscurity
Genestealer Cults are arguably the hardest faction in the game to play well in Warhammer 40K, and this often results in wild swings in their win-loss ratio.
In recent months, though, this army has surged into the upper tier of competitive play, especially with the power of Host of Ascension. The win rate has climbed too high, and Games Workshop rarely lets that stand for long.
The complexity of the faction still protects it from completely dominating the wider player base, but the rising success rate among top players is a clear warning sign. Expect adjustments that bring Genestealer Cults back down to earth—though hopefully not so harsh that they disappear from tables entirely for the rest of the edition.
5. Emperor’s Children Break Back Into the Meta
Emperor’s Children once dominated the meta on release, but their reign was cut short after heavy nerfs. With such a limited roster of unique units, those nerfs hit particularly hard.
Noise Marines and Daemon Princes with Wings were both reduced in power, which hurt the faction significantly. While some top players pivoted into options like Maulerfiends, the army never fully recovered.
Now, with vehicles playing such a central role in the meta, the Emperor’s Children need help. A reduction of earlier nerfs—along with a potential adjustment for Fulgrim himself—could go a long way to restoring this faction’s presence in competitive play.
What do you think will change in the next Warhammer 40K dataslate? Share your predictions and join the discussion below — and don’t forget to check back here after the slate drops for a full breakdown of the winners and losers.
Husband, Florida State Seminole, and fan of all things grimdark, sometimes even winning a game or two.
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